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Campaign fundraising reports show mixed bag, only one bidder on $33M Honolulu rail work, fatal zipline failed inspection, Hawaii electric bills rise…
Money and politics, courtesy illustration, Frank Housh Leaders of the Hawaii Legislature didn’t add much to their political war chests during the second half of 2011, according to the latest round of campaign finance reports due by midnight Tuesday. Civil Beat. Gov. Neil Abercrombie has raised more than $1.1 million for his 2014 re-election campaign, an early validation from donors after an uneven first year in office. Star-Advertiser. Former U.S. Rep. Ed Case raised more than $111,800 during the last quarter for his Democratic primary campaign for the U.S. Senate, which put him far behind the pace of his rival, U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono, who raised more than $624,350. Star-Advertiser. GOP U.S. Senate candidate Linda Lingle collected more than $260,000 from 75 political action committees in three months of fundraising, according to her federal campaign finance report posted online Tuesday. Civil Beat. The state Legislature is once again considering whether to allow legalized gambling on Hawaiian home lands. Associated Press. Hawaii voters aren’t ready to roll the dice on legalized gambling, according to the latest Civil Beat Poll. Civil Beat. Social service advocates urged lawmakers Tuesday to continue to use the state’s rainy day fund to help finance health, education and human services programs that were threatened during the recession. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii is “definitely ahead” of other states in its efforts to develop open records policies for social media usage, according to the Virginia-based government watchdog nonprofit Sunshine Review. Civil Beat. Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s policy team has implemented a new “Testimony Tracking System” to “find potential conflicts between different agencies sooner rather than later” when it comes to submitting testimony to lawmakers. Hawaii Reporter. Lawmakers Move Legislation to Provide PUC More Authority. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii’s electric bills rose at nearly double the national rate from 2000 through 2010 even as local residents and businesses did more to conserve electricity than the country as a whole, according to a report released Tuesday. Star-Advertiser. Oahu Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle, seeking to retain the job for a full four-year term, enters the 2012 race with a sizable lead in funds as his challengers begin mounting their campaigns against him. Star-Advertiser. Spending Reports Show Caldwell Surges, But Owes Big. KITV4. The city has awarded a new, $33.4 million contract to Infraconsult LLC, the company that has already received nearly $50 million in contracts to oversee the $5.2 billion Honolulu rapid transit project. Hawaii Reporter. Mayor Peter Carlisle plans to earmark a $450 million city-backed line of credit for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation to demonstrate to federal authorities that the rail project has the resources it needs to complete construction, Carlisle said Tuesday. Star-Advertiser. The Honolulu City Council is considering metered parking rate increases at Oahu parks, a proposal that isn’t sitting well with many park users. Hawaii News Now. Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle announced Tuesday the launch of Honolulu 311, a new system through which the public may use smartphones to report abandoned vehicles, broken street lights, illegal dumping and other issues. KITV4. Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle announced the launch of a smart phone application Tuesday that allows residents to send complaints directly to the Department of Customer Services. KHON2. Hawaii Winning election multiple times hasn’t been a financial boon for Hawaii County Council members’ campaign war chests, several of which have endured prolonged deficit spending. Tribune-Herald. An East Hawaii zip line tower failed to pass an initial county inspection prior to its collapse in September, killing one worker and seriously injuring another. Tribune-Herald. Palamanui is mostly paid up for its community college campus obligations. West Hawaii Today. The developers of the 725-acre Palamanui mixed-use project on the Big Island’s Kona Coast are giving the University of Hawaii
Continue reading...Abercrombie, NFL skirmish over Pro Bowl, Hawaii lawmakers tackle minimum wage, open meetings, political commmittees, pension fund, GOP seeks candidate…
25. January 2012
Hawaiian monk seal, NOAA courtesy photo A proposal to expand federal protections for the endangered Hawaiian monk seal is facing major push back from the state. Civil Beat. A bill moving through the state Legislature could increase Hawaii’s minimum wage for the first time since 2007, but opinions are mixed as to whether elevating the wage floor would help or hinder Hawaii’s economic recovery. Associated Press. Gov. Neil Abercrombie compared Pro Bowl negotiations to having a gun held to the state’s head by the NFL, but later said, “We would like to continue to have (the game) and we’re going to do everything we can to make sure that comes about in a fashion that will make everybody very, very happy.” Star-Advertiser. NFL flags Hawaii governor’s Pro Bowl comments . Pacific Business News. Governor Neil Abercrombie made a surprise visit to the NFL’s Pro Bowl kickoff news conference to speak glowingly about the relationship between Hawaii and the NFL, after criticizing NFL owners earlier in the day. KITV4. Hawaii political committees that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of campaign money would be required to disclose the candidates their expenditures are attacking or supporting under a proposal moving through the Legislature. Civil Beat. Hawaii lawmakers are entertaining amendments to the state Sunshine Law to allow board members to attend public meetings, community events and professional association conferences without violating the open meetings law. Associated Press. Lawmakers will be briefed on the state of the Race to the Top program on Wednesday. Hawaii News Now. Hawaii Electric Co., and its subsidiaries on Maui and the Big Island, would no longer be allowed to generate electricity if they wished to sell it under a proposed bill from Rep. Denny Coffman. West Hawaii Today. A Hollywood hit is shining the spotlight on Hawaii’s film industry. “The Descendants,” which was shot in Hawaii, has captured five Oscar nominations. Lawmakers hope to cash in on the movie’s success by attracting new productions to the islands. Hawaii News Now. A recent report shows that Hawaii’s public pension fund ranked at the bottom among comparable funds for its investment returns over the past decade. Civil Beat. The state Department of Human Services says it has introduced a new food stamps benefits processing system to address an applications backlog. Associated Press. House Speaker Calvin Say and Senate President Shan Tsutsui said yesterday they are opposed to tax increases even though the State Council on Revenue lowered its state revenue projects by $130 million. Hawaii Reporter. Hawaii GOP Still Looking For CD2 Candidate. Civil Beat. Obama’s Blueprint for Energy, Defense Could Mean Jobs in Hawaii. Civil Beat. State roundup for Jan. 25. Associated Press. Oahu The City Council might consider reforms of some property tax exemptions, but reducing or eliminating the standard exemption for Oahu’s 144,000 homeowners would be a tough sell to the public in an election year, the Council’s budget chairwoman says. Star-Advertiser. The Honolulu City Council Budget Committee conducted a special public hearing yesterday on a controversial recommendation by an Advisory Commission to repeal nearly all of the property tax exemptions for O’ahu owners. Hawaii Public Radio. Gambling proponents are eyeing the convention center as a possible venue to allow gaming in the state. KITV4. Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle likely will seek Honolulu City Council approval for a “contingency plan” to raise additional funding for the Honolulu rail project if that becomes necessary. Star-Advertiser. The Honolulu Zoo is under fire over the entrance fee it charges students on school field trips. KHON2. Hawaii A group of Kona coffee growers hopes legislators pass a bill that would require businesses to more thoroughly describe the contents of coffee sold in Hawaii — a change that critics claim would increase the price. Star-Advertiser. American Motorists Insurance Co. will pay $12.5 million to Hawaii County as part of a proposed settlement agreement a series of lawsuits regarding the stalled Hokulia development. West Hawaii Today. The jobs are coming back, but so are the job-seekers. Tribune-Herald. Farmers, agricultural experts and educators gathered Tuesday in Hilo to help map the future of Hawaii’s agricultural industry and attract workers needed to run it. Tribune-Herald. The Hawaii Board of Education cleared the way Tuesday for the Laupahoehoe charter school to open its doors in July.
Continue reading...Hawaii bridge report in, Honolulu nation’s least affordable housing, Department of Hawaiian Homelands seeks new Maui prison, big security presence…
23. January 2012
With 756 state-owned bridges in Hawai‘i, the Senate Committee on Transportation and International Affairs is taking a closer look at the condition and integrity of the structures. Hawaii Reporter. Hawaii is the only state in the country that doesn’t have a law requiring drivers to give police, EMS or any freeway responder room on the roadway. KHON2. Performance pay linked to annual evaluations was often cited by Hawaii teachers as one of the key reasons for rejecting a proposed 6-year contract with the state. Civil Beat. The University of Hawaii is looking for people to participate in a study with New York’s Cornell University to develop foods that can be used on a mission to Mars. Pacific Business News. The Hawai‘i Children’s Trust Fund partnered with the Joyful Heart Foundation to begin a statewide public awareness campaign called “One Strong ‘Ohana.” Garden Island. State roundup for January 23. Associated Press. Oahu The Honolulu City Council routinely introduces bills and resolutions with multiple cosponsors despite a state law that bars members of public boards from discussing board business outside of public meetings. Civil Beat. Last year Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle told a radio audience that Honolulu’s rail project had “too much momentum” to be stopped. Now former Gov. Ben Cayetano plans to put Carlisle’s claim to the test, and is running for mayor with the stated intention of killing the $5.27 billion rail project. Star-Advertiser. This promises to be a wild year in Honolulu. Civil Beat. Police Chief Louis Kealoha bowed his head before a memorial erected to patrol officer Garret Davis on Sunday, then implored Oahu drivers to be more careful — especially when officers are doing their jobs. Star-Advertiser. A study of 325 metropolitan areas worldwide says Honolulu is the least-affordable housing market in the United States. Star-Advertiser. A former Hawaii state senator announced Sunday that he’s running for a Honolulu City Council seat. KHON2. Hawaii Alleging they were wrongly fired, two former Hawaii County senior elections officials on Friday asked for $500,000 apiece to settle a defamation claim and offset their emotional suffering. Tribune-Herald. The Hawaii County administration has made an end run around the County Council by soliciting bids for recycling services without the council’s blessing. West Hawaii Today. Jack Hash thought he was getting an idyllic setting, but a multiyear battle over a neighbor’s illegal home has him regretting the move, contemplating selling and wondering where’s the building enforcement. Tribune-Herald. A magnitude-5.0 earthquake and several small aftershocks shook the Big Island on Sunday, but there were no reports of injury or damage. Associated Press. Maui Runway options would halt Mainland flights for weeks. Maui News. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is taking the lead in resuscitating what had been an estimated $235 million project to build an 843-inmate, minimum- and medium-security prison in Puunene. Maui News. Maui County could streamline the way it grants millions of dollars to nonprofit agencies and eliminate the volunteer Grants Review Committee under changes being considered by the administration and County Council. Maui News. Lehuanani Huddleston-Hafoka of Kihei said she’d save about $560 a year in bus transportation to send her two children to Maui High School in Kahului if a high school were built in South Maui. Star-Advertiser. Kauai Where did you sleep last night? This is the question volunteers across Kaua‘i will be asking starting Tuesday through Jan. 29 when the Kaua‘i Community Alliance, a member of a Neighbor Island continuum of care called Bridging the Gap, oversees the annual Point in Time homeless count, states a news release from Catholic Charities Hawai‘i. Garden Island. Molokai In 30 years of community activism, Molokai’s Walter Ritte Jr. said he never saw anything like Saturday at dawn at Kaunakakai Harbor: about 80 cruise ship protesters matched up against at least twice as many county, state and federal officers. Maui News. Nearly 50 U.S. Coast Guard personnel, as well as dozens of county, state and federal law enforcement guarded a security zone around Kaunakakai Harbor for the return of American Safari Cruises’ yacht Safari Explorer last Saturday. Molokai Dispatch. There was no blockade on the water for the American Safari Explorer, a 36-passenger tour boat as it pulled into port at Kaunakakai Harbor at 7:30 a.m. Saturday. KITV4.
Continue reading...Featured Hotel – Fairmont Orchid Hotel
19. January 2012
Hawaii Hotel Deals – The Big Island The Fairmont Orchid Hotel Promo Code: VNL Call 1.800.330.8820 or click here to have a Hawaii Travel Specialist contact you about booking this Big Island luxury hotel. TravelWizard.com: Specialists in the Art of Travel: Call 1-800-330-8820
Continue reading...Free Coffee Farm Tour & Tasting at Kauai Coffee Company
19. January 2012
Though the Big Island grows Hawaii’s most renown Kona coffee, Kauai is actually the home to the largest coffee farm in all of Hawaii and the US. Kauai produces approximately 60% of Hawaii’s total coffee crop. Kauai Coffee Company on the southern side of Kauai grows more than 4 million coffee trees over 3,100 acres. From my visit at Kauai Coffee Company, I had to ask what the difference between Kona coffee and Kauai coffee. I was told that Kauai coffee tends to have more fruit notes and slightly less acidity. The company representative then gave me a wine comparison that further explained the difference – Kona coffee is like a Cabernet while Kauai coffee is more like a Merlot or Pinot Noir. At Kauai Coffee Company, you can take a self-guided tour , see harvesting and roasting equipment and, best of all, enjoy tasting the varieties that Kauai Coffee Company produces and roasts. Visiting and tasting is completely free . Though, if you are like us, after tasting some of the samples you’ll want to purchase Kauai-grown coffee to take back home. Located in Kalaheo, Kauai Coffee Company is open every day from 9am to 5pm. (From June 1 – August 31 opening hours are extended to 5:30pm.) For directions, see this map . I recommend a short stop into Kauai Coffee Company and have listed it as one of the best free activities on Kauai . Have you tried Kauai coffee or visited Kauai Coffee Company? © Go Visit Hawaii – Republication of this entire post is prohibited without prior permission. Using extracts of less than 100 words are permitted with full attribution and link back to GoVisitHawaii.com .
Continue reading...Hawaii Legislature ponders invasive species, bed bugs in state Kapolei building, lawmakers seek delay in unemployment insurance, Native Hawaiians have…
13. January 2012
Iolani Palace (c) 2012 All Hawaii News Native Hawaiians who believe they are citizens of the Hawaiian Kingdom — not the United States — nonetheless spent Thursday in an American court defending themselves against charges they trespassed on the grounds of their rightful seat of government, Iolani Palace. Civil Beat. The state Reapportionment Commission plans to meet Jan. 20 to begin redrawing political boundaries, following a Hawaii Supreme Court ruling last week that invalidated new maps approved by the nine-member panel in October. Star-Advertiser. Wary of undermining economic recovery, state House lawmakers want to forestall a scheduled increase this year in the unemployment insurance tax rate that would force businesses to pay $180 to $650 more for every employee. Star-Advertiser. Teacher Agreement Better Than ‘Last, Best and Final’? Too Soon To Say. Civil Beat. Reptiles and other invasive species invaded the capitol today as part of a legislative briefing on environmental concerns. KHON2. The biggest threat to the state’s economy, natural environment and the health of island residents, according to state lawmakers, comes from destructive plants and pests originating elsewhere. Hawaii Public Radio. A wildlife revival around the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is giving scientists a glimpse of what the main Hawaiian Islands looked like thousands of years ago — and researchers said Thursday they hope the environmental renaissance of sorts will spur similar endeavors around the world. Star-Advertiser. State building hit by bed bug problem. KHON2. State roundup for January 13. Associated Press. Oahu Former acting Mayor Kirk Caldwell, looking to reclaim the post permanently, wasted little time in criticizing the incumbent, characterizing Mayor Peter Carlisle’s first year in office as little more than photo opportunities and traveling with a singular focus on pushing the rail transit project at any cost. Star-Advertiser. Caldwell’s First Promise: Soap In Bus Stop Bathroom. Civil Beat. Former Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano is considering a run for Honolulu mayor at age 72 for one main reason: to stop the rail project. Civil Beat. Gov. Neil Abercrombie has released $2 million in general obligation bond funds for the planning, design and construction of a flood alleviation project for Oahu’s Waianae Coast. KITV4. Up to 100 truckloads per day of used asphalt has been dumped at the site of a proposed cemetery in Hawaii Kai in the past several weeks, resurrecting environmental concerns about what is being stockpiled on the property. Star-Advertiser. Kaneohe Pier Declared Unsafe. Officials Condemn Portion Of Main Access Pier To Coconut Island. KITV4 . Great white shark spotted off Oahu. Hawaii News Now. Hawaii The year 2011 ended on a soggy note in East Hawaii, but that was not enough to keep most of the Big Island from recording another year of below-average rainfall. Tribune-Herald. North Hawaii Community Hospital has received $680,000 to improve its health information technology, joining a national health care industry trend to improve information technology. West Hawaii Today. Maui Hawaiian Airlines is adding flights at Kahului Airport for both interisland and Mainland destinations, creating a “Maui hub” to improve connections. Maui News. One of the leading Democratic candidates vying to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka decided to brown bag it to work Wednesday in Wailuku. Maui News . A state-authorized motorcycle safety program will now be available on Maui with the opening of Hawaii’s newest motorcycle safety training site in Kahului. Maui Now. An ordinance to prohibit alcohol consumption at the new South Maui Community Park in Kihei went into effect this week. KHON2. Kauai The County of Kaua‘i ended Fiscal Year 2011 on June 30 with a budget surplus of $57.26 million, according to the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report released Dec. 15. Garden Island. Amanda Barretto has filed suit against a Kaua‘i elementary school and the state Department of Education in 5th Circuit Court on behalf of her 7-year-old child. Garden Island. The mayor recognized Kamehameha Schools’ third-grade students in the
Continue reading...Hawaii Legislature ponders invasive species, bed bugs in state Kapolei building, lawmakers seek delay in unemployment insurance, Native Hawaiians have…
13. January 2012
Iolani Palace (c) 2012 All Hawaii News Native Hawaiians who believe they are citizens of the Hawaiian Kingdom — not the United States — nonetheless spent Thursday in an American court defending themselves against charges they trespassed on the grounds of their rightful seat of government, Iolani Palace. Civil Beat. The state Reapportionment Commission plans to meet Jan. 20 to begin redrawing political boundaries, following a Hawaii Supreme Court ruling last week that invalidated new maps approved by the nine-member panel in October. Star-Advertiser. Wary of undermining economic recovery, state House lawmakers want to forestall a scheduled increase this year in the unemployment insurance tax rate that would force businesses to pay $180 to $650 more for every employee. Star-Advertiser. Teacher Agreement Better Than ‘Last, Best and Final’? Too Soon To Say. Civil Beat. Reptiles and other invasive species invaded the capitol today as part of a legislative briefing on environmental concerns. KHON2. The biggest threat to the state’s economy, natural environment and the health of island residents, according to state lawmakers, comes from destructive plants and pests originating elsewhere. Hawaii Public Radio. A wildlife revival around the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is giving scientists a glimpse of what the main Hawaiian Islands looked like thousands of years ago — and researchers said Thursday they hope the environmental renaissance of sorts will spur similar endeavors around the world. Star-Advertiser. State building hit by bed bug problem. KHON2. State roundup for January 13. Associated Press. Oahu Former acting Mayor Kirk Caldwell, looking to reclaim the post permanently, wasted little time in criticizing the incumbent, characterizing Mayor Peter Carlisle’s first year in office as little more than photo opportunities and traveling with a singular focus on pushing the rail transit project at any cost. Star-Advertiser. Caldwell’s First Promise: Soap In Bus Stop Bathroom. Civil Beat. Former Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano is considering a run for Honolulu mayor at age 72 for one main reason: to stop the rail project. Civil Beat. Gov. Neil Abercrombie has released $2 million in general obligation bond funds for the planning, design and construction of a flood alleviation project for Oahu’s Waianae Coast. KITV4. Up to 100 truckloads per day of used asphalt has been dumped at the site of a proposed cemetery in Hawaii Kai in the past several weeks, resurrecting environmental concerns about what is being stockpiled on the property. Star-Advertiser. Kaneohe Pier Declared Unsafe. Officials Condemn Portion Of Main Access Pier To Coconut Island. KITV4 . Great white shark spotted off Oahu. Hawaii News Now. Hawaii The year 2011 ended on a soggy note in East Hawaii, but that was not enough to keep most of the Big Island from recording another year of below-average rainfall. Tribune-Herald. North Hawaii Community Hospital has received $680,000 to improve its health information technology, joining a national health care industry trend to improve information technology. West Hawaii Today. Maui Hawaiian Airlines is adding flights at Kahului Airport for both interisland and Mainland destinations, creating a “Maui hub” to improve connections. Maui News. One of the leading Democratic candidates vying to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka decided to brown bag it to work Wednesday in Wailuku. Maui News . A state-authorized motorcycle safety program will now be available on Maui with the opening of Hawaii’s newest motorcycle safety training site in Kahului. Maui Now. An ordinance to prohibit alcohol consumption at the new South Maui Community Park in Kihei went into effect this week. KHON2. Kauai The County of Kaua‘i ended Fiscal Year 2011 on June 30 with a budget surplus of $57.26 million, according to the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report released Dec. 15. Garden Island. Amanda Barretto has filed suit against a Kaua‘i elementary school and the state Department of Education in 5th Circuit Court on behalf of her 7-year-old child. Garden Island. The mayor recognized Kamehameha Schools’ third-grade students in the
Continue reading...Hawaii Legislature ponders invasive species, bed bugs in state Kapolei building, lawmakers seek delay in unemployment insurance, Native Hawaiians have…
13. January 2012
Iolani Palace (c) 2012 All Hawaii News Native Hawaiians who believe they are citizens of the Hawaiian Kingdom — not the United States — nonetheless spent Thursday in an American court defending themselves against charges they trespassed on the grounds of their rightful seat of government, Iolani Palace. Civil Beat. The state Reapportionment Commission plans to meet Jan. 20 to begin redrawing political boundaries, following a Hawaii Supreme Court ruling last week that invalidated new maps approved by the nine-member panel in October. Star-Advertiser. Wary of undermining economic recovery, state House lawmakers want to forestall a scheduled increase this year in the unemployment insurance tax rate that would force businesses to pay $180 to $650 more for every employee. Star-Advertiser. Teacher Agreement Better Than ‘Last, Best and Final’? Too Soon To Say. Civil Beat. Reptiles and other invasive species invaded the capitol today as part of a legislative briefing on environmental concerns. KHON2. The biggest threat to the state’s economy, natural environment and the health of island residents, according to state lawmakers, comes from destructive plants and pests originating elsewhere. Hawaii Public Radio. A wildlife revival around the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is giving scientists a glimpse of what the main Hawaiian Islands looked like thousands of years ago — and researchers said Thursday they hope the environmental renaissance of sorts will spur similar endeavors around the world. Star-Advertiser. State building hit by bed bug problem. KHON2. State roundup for January 13. Associated Press. Oahu Former acting Mayor Kirk Caldwell, looking to reclaim the post permanently, wasted little time in criticizing the incumbent, characterizing Mayor Peter Carlisle’s first year in office as little more than photo opportunities and traveling with a singular focus on pushing the rail transit project at any cost. Star-Advertiser. Caldwell’s First Promise: Soap In Bus Stop Bathroom. Civil Beat. Former Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano is considering a run for Honolulu mayor at age 72 for one main reason: to stop the rail project. Civil Beat. Gov. Neil Abercrombie has released $2 million in general obligation bond funds for the planning, design and construction of a flood alleviation project for Oahu’s Waianae Coast. KITV4. Up to 100 truckloads per day of used asphalt has been dumped at the site of a proposed cemetery in Hawaii Kai in the past several weeks, resurrecting environmental concerns about what is being stockpiled on the property. Star-Advertiser. Kaneohe Pier Declared Unsafe. Officials Condemn Portion Of Main Access Pier To Coconut Island. KITV4 . Great white shark spotted off Oahu. Hawaii News Now. Hawaii The year 2011 ended on a soggy note in East Hawaii, but that was not enough to keep most of the Big Island from recording another year of below-average rainfall. Tribune-Herald. North Hawaii Community Hospital has received $680,000 to improve its health information technology, joining a national health care industry trend to improve information technology. West Hawaii Today. Maui Hawaiian Airlines is adding flights at Kahului Airport for both interisland and Mainland destinations, creating a “Maui hub” to improve connections. Maui News. One of the leading Democratic candidates vying to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka decided to brown bag it to work Wednesday in Wailuku. Maui News . A state-authorized motorcycle safety program will now be available on Maui with the opening of Hawaii’s newest motorcycle safety training site in Kahului. Maui Now. An ordinance to prohibit alcohol consumption at the new South Maui Community Park in Kihei went into effect this week. KHON2. Kauai The County of Kaua‘i ended Fiscal Year 2011 on June 30 with a budget surplus of $57.26 million, according to the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report released Dec. 15. Garden Island. Amanda Barretto has filed suit against a Kaua‘i elementary school and the state Department of Education in 5th Circuit Court on behalf of her 7-year-old child. Garden Island. The mayor recognized Kamehameha Schools’ third-grade students in the
Continue reading...Tax hikes mulled, statewide bag ban sought, Hawaii flunks Race to the Top, teacher union vote set, Lingle, Hannemann net union endorsements, yacht…
10. January 2012
Former Gov. Linda Lingle (c) 2012 All Hawaii News The State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers on Monday endorsed former Gov. Linda Lingle for U.S. Senate, which gives the Republican a window into the blue-collar labor community that usually prefers Democrats. Star-Advertiser. On Monday, the United Public Workers, Local 646 announced its endorsement of former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann to serve Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Hawaii News Now. The state plans to tighten spending rather than increase taxes to cover a predicted $19.3 million state budget deficit in fiscal year 2013, Hawaii officials said Monday. Associated Press. Tax increases and other revenue-generating measures are being considered by the Abercrombie administration to deal with budget shortfalls expected to top $164 million in fiscal year 2014 and grow in successive years. Star-Advertiser. The state’s recently downgraded revenues forecast won’t scrap Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s financial plan for this year or next. Civil Beat. The effects of newly downgraded tax revenue projections will be “minimal” for the current state budget but will be “quite considerable and severe” in future years, causing Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s administration to at least consider the possibility of future tax increases, Budget Director Kalbert Young said today. Hawaii Reporter. State Budget and Finance Director Kalbert Young told lawmakers Monday the Abercrombie administration is drawing up a revised six year financial plan in order to deal with long-term deficits that rise above $300 million within the next four fiscal years. KHON2. Hawaii missed major milestones during its first year of implementing reforms under a $75 million “Race to the Top” education grant, the U.S. Department of Education said. Associated Press. In its first year of a four-year, $75 million Race to the Top grant, Hawaii missed “the majority” of its education reform milestones, a new U.S. Department of Education report says. Star-Advertiser. Several states that won a slice of the U.S. Department of Education’s $4.3 billion Race to the Top competition have had to delay plans to implement ambitious reforms and two could possibly lose money if they don’t get back on track. Associated Press. The Hawaii State Teachers Association hopes to hold a ratification vote on a new six-year contract on Jan. 19. Star-Advertiser. The tentative agreement reached by the state and the Hawaii State Teachers Association could help to save federal education funds. Hawaii News Now. The Governor says a tentative labor deal with the teachers union should help the state secure $75 million dollars in federal “Race to the Top” money. KHON2. With the legislative session gearing up, advocates are pushing for a statewide law to bring O`ahu into the mix and deal with some unforeseen problems the plastic bag bans created. Hawaii Public Radio. State roundup for January 10. Associated Press. Oahu The city has awarded a $38.8 million contract to Los Angeles-based AECOM Technical Services Inc. to design the rail transit project’s airport segment. Star-Advertiser. Judge: Civil Beat Can Blog Honolulu Rail Lawsuit. Civil Beat. Honolulu officials have taken the first major step toward using the new belongings ban to remove homeless people from public sidewalks. Civil Beat. Sun, surf and 24,000 cubic yards of sand; the state’s plan to replenish the shoreline along Waikiki requires large equipment to pump that sand from more than 1,500 feet offshore. KITV4. State Sen. Donna Kim, a frequent critic of programs and activities at state airports, got an unpleasant surprise when she took the new shuttle service from Honolulu International Airport to her home in the Kalihi neighborhood of Honolulu. Hawaii Reporter. Hawaii’s slow and uneven economic recovery appeared to rub off on Oahu’s housing market last year, as median prices dipped a little on relatively flat buyer demand. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii The Big Island saw about a 15 percent decline in single-family home sales in December, but hardly any change in condominium sales, according to Hawaii Information Service. Pacific Business News . A Hawaii USDA office will be closed as part of an effort to cut costs. KHON2. Reimbursement for services — particularly from Medicare and Medicaid — will continue to be a top issue for Kona Community Hospital and West Hawaii physicians, a Big Island senator said Monday. West Hawaii Today. Ten Hawaii Island couples had applications for civil unions certified last week, according to the state Department of Health. Tribune-Herald. Maui Maui home sales were mixed in December, while prices for both single-family homes and condominiums were down by double-digit amounts, according to the Realtors Association of Maui. Pacific Business News. Makawao Veterans Cemetery may reach capacity for burials in one and a half to two years, so plans are being laid for the purchase of a 10-acre adjoining property. Maui News. The Wailuku copy and business center, Maui Business Etc, will be the site of a lunchtime “Coffee Talk with Mazie” on Wednesday, January 11. Maui Now. Kauai Single-family home sales on Kauai dropped more than 50 percent in December compared to the same month in 2010, according to Hawaii Information Service. Pacific Business News. The Kaua‘i County Council in May approved — and funded — dozens of county job positions which have yet to be filled, Council Chair Jay Furfaro said Monday. Garden Island . Kaua‘i Community College opened its classrooms Monday for the start of the spring semester. Garden Island. Molokai American Safari Cruises (ASC) is resuming scheduled two-day stops to Molokai later this month after company officials, local protesters and state and federal authorities reached an agreement. Molokai Dispatch.
Continue reading...Hawaii senators propose $500M stimulus plan, Native Hawaiians taking federal recogition into their own hands, teachers, governor strike deal, REAL ID…
9. January 2012
Hawaiian protest (c) 2012 All Hawaii News Frustrated with a 10-year congressional fight to obtain federal recognition and form a nation-within-a-nation government, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has decided to follow a path that has led several American Indian tribes to success. Civil Beat. State senators, looking to stimulate job creation and help lift the construction industry out of the doldrums, want to aggressively pursue as much as $500 million in bond-financed construction projects at public schools, hospitals and state buildings. Star-Advertiser. Now that the Hawaii Supreme Court has sent the state Reapportionment Commission back to the drawing board, former state Sen. Lorraine Inouye is positioning herself to run for what is likely to become the island’s fourth Senate seat. West Hawaii Today. Hawaii’s congressional candidates want your money, but most of them won’t tell you exactly when and where they’re asking for it. Civil Beat. In less than two months, all Hawaii residents who are applying for or renewing a driver’s license must bring documents that establish their legal presence in the state. Tribune-Herald. The 2010 census showed Filipinos have overtaken Japanese as the second largest ethnic group in Hawai’i, behind Caucasians. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii’s tourism officials are supporting federal legislation that could increase the number of Chinese and Canadian visitors to the U.S. Hawaii News Now. The State of Hawaii and the Hawaii State Teachers Association have reached a tentative agreement Friday, ending a dispute that threatened federal funding for Hawaii’s schools and spurred legal action from the teacher’s union. KITV4. Lynn Heirakuji has stepped in as the vice-chair of the Hawaii Interagency Council on Homelessness, filling a seat vacated on Friday by Marc Alexander the former state coordinator on the homeless. Pacific Business News. Hawaiian monk seal deaths are coming as the federal government steps up its efforts to protect the seals, leading to simmering resentment among some fishermen who fear new regulations will trample upon their right to fish. Associated Press. Some positive economic numbers from the state’s largest bank show an overall increase in business spending from last year. KITV4. State roundup for January 9. Associated Press. Oahu In a curious postscript to a high-profile city contracting dispute, state records show that two of the three companies vying for a contract to produce rail cars for the Honolulu rail project responded to a request for proposals before the companies were licensed as Hawaii contractors. Star-Advertiser. A handful of teachers in Hawaii are using a new service that allows them to blast a text message to parents, who can then text back. Star-Advertiser. Occupy Honolulu Asked Mayor for Immunity From Sidewalk Belongings Ban. Civil Beat. A University of Hawaii research vessel that called for Coast Guard assistance when it began taking on water some 60 miles off Oahu returned safely to port Saturday. Hawaii News Now. More than 6,000 farmers and ranchers from across the nation are in Honolulu for the annual American Farm Bureau Federation meeting at the Hawaii Convention Center. KHON2. Hawaii Some Kohala residents attempted to light a fire under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to request funding and implement an action plan that solves the silt and sedimentation problems inside Pelekane Bay. West Hawaii Today. Hawaii Electric Light Co. said Friday that it hopes to add up to 50 megawatts of geothermal energy on the Big Island. Pacific Business News. Improper chemical storage has caused safety and health threats at Big Island schools, say local hazardous waste experts seeking to increase awareness of the dangers. Tribune-Herald. Maui Ocean safety advocates are renewing calls for the state to replace missing swim-zone buoys off Kaanapali, saying the recent death of a man at Canoe Beach shows the increasing danger of collisions between boats and swimmers. Maui News. A Hana-based spiritual center could expand to receive overnight guests, under a proposal that received the support of the Maui County Council’s Land Use Committee on Wednesday. Maui News. Supporters were ecstatic last Thursday when the Maui County Council members voted unanimously to ban alcohol at Kalama Park and Cove Park in Kihei. Maui Now. Kauai Veteran Kaua‘i broadcast journalist William Gordon “Bill” Dahle, who was called “the Walter Cronkite of radio news” on the island, died at his home in Kalaheo Saturday. Garden Island.
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1. February 2012
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